Former NBA player speaks on Rodman, trip to North Korea

BEIJING (CNN) - Former NBA player Charles Smith spoke to CNN Sunday morning about the controversial trip he made with Dennis Rodman along with other former NBA stars to play a basketball game in North Korea.

The trip and Rodman's comments about American Kenneth Bae, who's being held prisoner in North Korea, sparked a media firestorm.

"It was unlike him from my experience with him over the years, he definitely felt a lot of pressure. What people do not understand about him is he's had his Hall of Fame speech which stated that he's a terrible dad. He said that publicly several times.," Smith said. "What Dennis wants is he wants to, he has a deep desire to do something good in a big way for his family, his kids, so his kids can be proud of him. And I felt for him. I felt for him on this trip because I saw the pressure mount, I saw him change and it was very difficult keeping him and everyone together."

Rodman issued an apology last week for his comments on Kenneth Bae, blaming the outburst on stress and drinking.

Smith says the visit to North Korea was not about politics, it was about interacting with the North Korean people.